What Should I Do When I Have a Work Accident?

Accidents happen all the time in the workplace, but when those accidents lead to an injury, it is important to make sure you take all of the appropriate steps so you don’t miss the compensation you deserve. By law, all Pennsylvania employers must purchase workers’ compensation insurance for their businesses. However, this requirement doesn’t mean the filing process will take care of itself.

If you are injured at work or when performing a work-related activity, your first steps should be to seek medical treatment and notify your health insurance provider, specifying that the incident occurred on the job. This begins the entire process, as your insurer must then file the right paperwork with the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation. Remember, although you may have a copy of these records, you should still double-check with the bureau to ensure that everything has been filed properly on your behalf.

After you receive medical treatment, you should notify your employer of your work-related injury as soon as possible. If, for some reason, your employer is less than cooperative, you may need to contact the Pennsylvania Bureau of Workers’ Compensation directly. A lawyer with experience in this area can help with this sometimes-difficult process.

Because your workers’ comp claim must go through so many steps and multiple agencies, do your best to keep records of all the paperwork you fill out or process. That way, if you find that something is missing or your claim is denied, you have records of your activities. Having records will also aid in your attorney’s ability to handle your case and seek the compensation you need after your workplace injury.

A skilled workers’ compensation lawyer can help guide you through this difficult process.